Include growth factors in your routine for a firmer-looking skin

If you’re savvy about skincare, chances are you’ll know your retinol from your alpha hydroxy acids, but what about growth factors? As a more recent addition to the beauty scene, they’re still a little misunderstood and often confused with stem cells. Still, if it’s a more youthful-looking complexion that you’re after, you’re going to want to incorporate these exciting new collagen-encouragers into your skincare routine.

Growth factors 101

Growth factors aren’t scary, foreign or uncommon. They’re large proteins manufactured by many different types of cells in your body. When they attach to the surface of a cell by binding to its receptors, they can communicate an array of messages that include “grow” and “heal”. An easy way to wrap your head around it is to consider growth factors as “keys” and the cell’s receptors as “locks”. When the right key slips into place, it can unlock a particular process, including rejuvenation.

Alas, your skin’s production of growth factors runs along the same course as its collagen creation. By the time you get to your mid-20s, your body’s production starts to slow down. Fewer growth factors mean fewer keys in locks and thus fewer cells are regenerated. This lack of regeneration coupled with the collagen loss is the perfect set up for a gradual loss of firmness, wrinkles and sagging. This is where skincare containing growth factors comes in. They can essentially supplement those that are lost and help your skin rejuvenate itself via stimulating processes like collagen creation and cellular turnover.

Reap the benefits

If you’re creating a skincare routine with a focus on keeping your skin looking as youthful as possible for as long as possible, you’ll want to use products containing growth factors. As these are fantastically cutting-edge actives, you’re not likely to find them in the products of your favourite chemist’s beauty aisle. You will, however, find them in innovative premium skincare lines such as Lamelle and Endocare.

While you’ll find growth factors in all the products included in Lamelle’s Dermaheal range, their Correctives Intensive GF Serum is a stand-out thanks to three different types of lab-created growth factors. The first two are Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF). They stimulate the production of keratinocytes (your skin’s outermost cells) and fibroblasts – the cells that produce collagen and elastin. The third type is Insulin Growth Factor-1 that significantly increases the efficacy of the first two growth factor types. Also included in the mix are collagen-encouraging peptides and water-binding hyaluronic acid. The result is a firmer-looking, less lined and plumper-looking complexion.

As far as Endocare goes, this brilliant line contains snail-derived SCA growth factors. SCA can stimulate fibroblasts that have grown prematurely old and started to slow down their good work as well as encourage the growth of brand new ones. It also packs a great antioxidant punch! If you’re concerned about a loss of firmness and elasticity, Endocare Tensage Concentrate will be a great addition to your skincare routine as it contains the maximum concentration of SCA growth factors as well as collagen-encouraging peptides, brightening ingredients and hydrators.

The bottom line

If you’re wanting to put together a very effective anti-ageing-focused skincare routine you’ll want to ensure it includes products containing growth factors. Two lines that make use of collagen-stimulating growth factors include Lamelle and Endocare. You’ll find both at all Skin Renewal branches as well as in the brand’s Online Skin Shop. You can also visit any Skin Renewal branch and chat to one of the highly-trained skin care therapists who’ll be able to help you create a skincare routine to suit your skin type and treat any particular concerns. Together, we can help you create a more radiant-complexion and reveal the best version of you, at any age.